Stock Comparison
CVX vs XOM: Two Integrated Majors, Two Payout Records
A head-to-head of Chevron and Exxon Mobil covering dividends, payout history, and size.
Data updated August 21, 2026
Best for
- CVXInvestors who want higher current income (3.46% vs 2.50% for XOM).
- XOMInvestors who want direct ownership of the underlying business, with no fund wrapper or management fee.
Visual comparison
Key metrics
Projected income on $10K
Projections assume the current yield and share price remain constant. Actual results will vary.
Total returns
CVX has lagged XOM over the trailing twelve months, posting a 39.25% total return against 56.54%. The picture flips over 10 years, though — CVX has compounded at 11.88% a year, ahead of XOM at 11.21%. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested.
| Symbol | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | Since Jan 1962 | Volatility | Sharpe | Sortino | Max drawdown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CVX | 35.34% | 39.25% | 13.21% | 21.60% | 11.88% | 10.25% | 23.1% | 0.34 | 0.46 | -20.8% |
| XOM | 37.32% | 56.54% | 18.78% | 30.11% | 11.21% | 11.80% | 23.4% | 0.55 | 0.77 | -20.1% |
Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date, split-adjusted, as of August 21, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative; longer windows are annualized. “Since Jan 1962” measures every fund from January 2, 1962 — the youngest fund's first trading day — so all funds share one comparison window. Volatility is the annualized standard deviation of daily total returns over the trailing 3 years. Sharpe and Sortino divide the annualized return in excess of the risk-free rate by, respectively, that volatility and the downside deviation (both over the trailing 3 years) — higher is better. Max drawdown is the largest peak-to-trough total-return decline over the same window — shallower is better.
Side-by-side snapshot
| Metric |  CVX |  XOM |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Chevron Corporation | Exxon Mobil Corporation |
| Issuer | — | — |
| Last Close | $205.27 as of August 21, 2026 | $165.11 as of August 21, 2026 |
| Distribution yield | 3.46% | 2.50% |
| Distribution Safety Score™ | 99 | 100 |
| Expense ratio | — | — |
| AUM | — | — |
| Distribution frequency | Quarterly | Quarterly |
| Underlying index | — | — |
| Objective | Engages in integrated energy and chemicals operations including exploration, production, refining, and marketing of crude oil, natural gas, and petroleum products. | Explores, produces, and sells crude oil, natural gas, and petroleum products, and manufactures commodity petrochemicals worldwide. |
| Asset class | Equity | Equity |
| Inception date | N/A | N/A |
| Beta | 0.488 | 0.173 |
| Last dividend | $1.7800 | $1.0300 |
| Ex-dividend date | 08/19/2026 | 08/17/2026 |
Bottom lineChoose CVX if you want higher current income (3.46% vs 2.50% for XOM). Choose XOM if you want direct ownership of the underlying business, with no fund wrapper or management fee.
CVX vs XOM: two integrated oil majors
Both produce, refine, and pay a quarterly dividend. Payout history and scale matter more than a one-date yield.
| CVX | XOM | |
|---|---|---|
| Business | Integrated oil major | Integrated oil major |
| Payout | Quarterly dividend | Quarterly dividend |
| Distribution yield | 3.46% | 2.50% |
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Quick verdict
CVX (Chevron Corporation) and XOM (Exxon Mobil Corporation) are both quarterly-pay dividend-paying stocks, but they take different approaches.
CVX offers the higher yield at 3.46% vs 2.50% for XOM. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.
Who should choose each?
Choose CVX
Chevron Corporation
- Want higher current income — CVX yields 3.46% vs 2.50% for XOM.
- Want direct stock ownership — full upside and dividend growth potential, no fund wrapper or expense ratio.
Choose XOM
Exxon Mobil Corporation
- Want direct stock ownership — full upside and dividend growth potential, no fund wrapper or expense ratio.
- Prefer lower volatility — a beta of 0.2 vs 0.5 for CVX.
Not sure? Use the income calculator and snapshot above to weigh these trade-offs against your own goals.
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Deep dive
Yield & income
On a $10,000 investment, CVX would generate roughly $28.83/month, while XOM would produce $20.83/month, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.
Strategy & risk
CVX is a stock built around integrated oil & gas exposure, while XOM is a stock built around integrated oil & gas exposure. Beta is 0.488 for CVX and 0.173 for XOM, making XOM the less volatile of the two by this measure.
Security details
CVX (Chevron Corporation) is a stock. XOM (Exxon Mobil Corporation) is a stock.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between CVX and XOM for dividends?
Both are integrated oil majors that pay a quarterly dividend. CVX (Chevron Corporation) distributes 3.46% and XOM (Exxon Mobil Corporation) distributes 2.50% as of August 2026. Compare payout history, cover, and scale — not a one-date yield gap.
What is the current distribution yield for CVX and XOM?
CVX currently distributes 3.46% and XOM 2.50%, based on fund data updated August 2026. Distribution yield moves with both the payout and the share price, so check the as-of date before relying on either figure.
Is CVX or XOM better for dividend income?
It depends on your goals. CVX currently offers the higher distribution yield, which means more income per dollar invested. However, a lower-yield fund may offer better total return or lower volatility. Consider your time horizon and risk tolerance.
What is the difference between CVX and XOM?
CVX (Chevron Corporation) is a stock built around integrated oil & gas exposure, while XOM (Exxon Mobil Corporation) is a stock built around integrated oil & gas exposure. They are issued by — and — respectively.
Can I hold both CVX and XOM?
Yes — nothing prevents holding both. Whether the combination actually diversifies depends on how much the underlying exposures overlap, which isn't fully measurable from the data on this page; review each security's holdings, sector, and strategy before treating them as complementary.
Is CVX or XOM safer?
By Dividend Vision's Distribution Safety Score — a rules-based 0–100 estimate of how resilient a distribution looks, where higher is safer — they are effectively tied: XOM scores 100, CVX scores 99. Neither has a clear safety edge on that measure. XOM has also shown lower price volatility (beta 0.17 vs 0.49 for CVX). No score makes an investment risk-free — treat this as a screening signal, not a guarantee.
How much income does $10,000 in CVX vs XOM generate?
At current rates, $10,000 in CVX would generate roughly $28.83 per month ($346.00 annually). The same in XOM would produce about $20.83 per month ($250.00 annually).
Which has performed better historically, CVX or XOM?
CVX has lagged XOM over the trailing twelve months, posting a 39.25% total return against 56.54%. The picture flips over 10 years, though — CVX has compounded at 11.88% a year, ahead of XOM at 11.21%. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
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